About Us

History and founding

The Syd Lawrence Orchestra was established in 1967 by trumpeter and arranger Syd Lawrence. The ensemble has entertained audiences for over 50 years across concert halls, theatres, television programmes and music festivals throughout Great Britain and Continental Europe.

Musical style and repertoire

The orchestra specialises in an exciting blend of high octane Big Band Swing and Classic Dance Music. The band's library holds over 2,000 classic Big Band arrangements, spanning wartime Glenn Miller standards through the Count Basie era to Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald hits.

Count Basie himself praised the orchestra as "so good it should be BANNED!"

Current leadership

Since Syd Lawrence's retirement in 1996, bandleader Chris Dean has directed the orchestra. His philosophy emphasises entertainment over instruction - "the music is what people want to hear" - and he has actively worked to bring younger musicians into the Big Band Swing genre, bringing fresh energy to every performance.

What to expect at a concert

Concerts feature roaring Big Band numbers, vocal performances from Chris Dean and guest artists, The Serenaders' close harmony singing, jazz soloist showcases, and drummer Dave Tandy's signature solo finales. For dances, the orchestra revives the romance, style and poetry of a bygone era by returning these compositions to their original dancing purpose.